The process of cooking barley can be challenging for many at first because it is time-consuming. Also, choosing the best appliance to cook Barley can be confusing as many options exist. But what is the best and easiest way to cook Barley?
Rice cookers are excellent for this task since they consistently produce perfectly steamed Barley. You can quickly cook Barley in a rice cooker by following the instructions in this article, as it will ease the process.
Did you know that one of the most essential grains until the 16th century was Barley, used as a currency?
Ideal Rice Cooker for Cooking Barley
There are several rice cooker brands, each with a wide selection of sizes and power levels.
Although there are many options when shopping for a rice cooker, you should remember that the brand, size, or power strength of the rice cooker you use to cook Barley doesn’t matter.
Your Barley will always turn out perfectly when cooked in a rice cooker, regardless of your chosen model. You can buy any of the readily available brands offline or online.
Interesting Fact – SONY’s first device was a rice cooker that made less than $100 in revenue.
How to Cook Barley Using a Rice Cooker
Barley can turn out more tender by soaking it for 30 minutes before cooking. It will get much softer if you drink it overnight.
Once the dry barley kernels have finished soaking, and the broth or water has come to a boil, slowly add one cup of the barley kernels.
When the Barley is done cooking, your rice cooker will automatically switch to the warm setting, so you don’t have to worry about overcooking and burning it!
Once the barley kernels have entirely absorbed the broth or water, your delicious dish will be ready. Serve this tasty, fat-free supper hot with butter to fill you up and keep you content.
Detailed Guide On Cooking Barley in A Rice Cooker
A few simple steps can prepare Barley in a rice or pressure cooker. If you have never cooked Barley in a rice cooker before, follow the instructions given below:
- To begin, wash the bowl of a quality rice cooker with hot water.
- Then, rinse the barley well in clean water for a few minutes.
- Place the Barley in the rice cooker with 3 cups of water or broth, 1 tablespoon of butter or oil, and a pinch of salt. The meal will have a chewy texture if oil or butter is added, so this step is optional as per your taste.
- After turning it on, set the timer to cook Barley in the rice cooker’s settings. A rice cooker will include a variety of cooking settings for various rice meals.
- Press the brown rice button to start cooking if your rice cooker doesn’t have grain settings.
- The Barley will need to be cooked for 15 to 30 minutes. As soon as the meal is done cooking, the cooker will shut off automatically, so you don’t need to keep checking it.
- Your Barley will be ready when the rice cooker begins to beep. You can smell it as soon as you open the rice cooker.
- Place the Barley on a platter and give it a moment to cool. Now serve it with your favorite snacks.
Top Tips
There are a few valuable tips that you should keep in mind to help you cook Barley in a rice cooker effortlessly and flawlessly.
Right Proportions
The first tip is to constantly measure your proportions and remember that for every 1 part barley, you should use 3 parts water. Don’t depend on guesswork. Your Barley won’t turn out nicely if the proportions are wrong.
Your Barley won’t be cooked through if you use too little water. It will continue to be firm and nearly crunchy.
On the other hand, if you add too much water, your Barley will become mushy and gloppy. It will resemble lumpy oatmeal.
Right Settings
The second piece of advice is to choose the appropriate setting. Choose ‘Brown Rice’ or the ‘Grain’ setting if there is one.
It is essential to keep in mind the standing time required at the end of the cooking process. This enables all extra water to be absorbed entirely.
Cleaning Hack
The next is a crucial cleaning tip. The Barley won’t stick in the rice cooker’s pot if you gently grease it.
Washing the rice cooker’s pan will be simple if you lightly spray it with a nonstick cooking spray.
You might also gently oil the rice cooker’s pan by drizzling a drop of melted butter onto the pan.
How to Cook Different Types of Barley
Barley comes in a wide range of varieties across the world. Pearl, hulled, and hulless barely have a few characteristics that set them apart.
For instance, a kernel’s appearance on the exterior significantly impacts how it cooks from within.
Interesting Fact – In Ancient Greece, Barley was used as a special diet for gladiators due to its energy.
Pearl Barley
Pearl barley comes in ordinary, fast, and instant kinds; depending on how finely crushed the kernels are, it cooks differently.
Ensure it has been soaked and steam-cooked until the bran layer around each kernel is soft enough to be removed with your fingers. This makes it simpler to digest. Also, when cooked, pearl barley will expand to more than three times its size.
The chewiness or flavor of pearl barley relies on how long it has been processed after production.
Hulled Barley
This is a tasty yet more time-consuming substitute for pearl barley, but it’s just as simple to cook in your rice cooker.
This type of grain has the most burdensome outer bran layer that cannot be rubbed off like pearl barley.
It has to be soaked in water until it is soft enough to rub or peel off with a sharp knife. This process dramatically expands the Barley in size as it absorbs the water.
Hullless Barley
This type of Barley has no outer bran layer and is high in fiber and protein. The rough, chewy texture of hulless Barley is not softened while cooking; therefore, it takes significantly longer to prepare than pearl or hulled kinds.
This grain has to be soaked the night before cooking to give it an exceptionally soft mouthfeel.
Interesting Fact- Barley is used in making drinks like whiskey and beer.
FAQs on Cooking Barley
I have answered some of the most frequently asked questions on cooking Barley here.
Q. Why Do You Have to Soak Barley?
It’s best to soak Barley in water before cooking as complex sugars and tannins are broken down during this process, which also facilitates better digestion.
Q. How Long Does It Take a Pressure Cooker to Cook Pearl Barley?
Depending on how old your barley grains are, it can take 15 to 30 minutes to cook them.
Q. Can Barley be Overcooked?
Barley can indeed be overcooked. When cooking, add lots of liquid to the pot or cooker and keep an eye on the timer.
Summing Up
Today, rice cookers are a relatively popular type of cooking equipment. With this appliance, you can easily prepare a variety of foods.
It is pretty simple to cook barely in a rice cooker. If you haven’t used a rice cooker to cook grains before, you only need to follow the instructions in this article. If you follow them carefully, you can cook Barley to perfection.